HUNDREDS of council workers look set to see their wages slashed next month.

A three-year pay protection period for West Dunbartonshire staff whose salaries were set to tumble as part of the controversial single status deal ends in March.

The restructure, which the authority said was necessary to ensure equality, was imposed on workers and came into affect in April 2009.

While some saw their salaries rise as part of the changes to terms and conditions, many employees lost out.

Next month around 330 people, including clerical staff and care workers, will see a drop in their pay packets.

Around 90 employees are set to lose the equivalent of one per cent from their salaries, worth up to £100 a year, but dozens will see a cut of over £1000 and several will see a drop of over £3000 per annum.

Every department within the authority has workers who are affected, although the majority are within the housing, environment and economic development section.

Charlie McDonald, of trade union Unite, said: “The hard fact is that most people haven’t had a pay rise in the last two years. Given the fact the council talks about equality, where is the equality in people losing money?

“There was an undertaking and commitment from the council when they imposed single status on workers that they were going to tackle detriment.

“The trade unions will work towards getting these people out of detriment. We believe this could be addressed by redesigning jobs and re-evaluating some of the posts that are in detriment.

“We will work with the council but are disappointed it’s not become a priority when we have been talking about it for the last three years.”

A council spokesman confirmed that from the end of March it was anticipated up to 330 staff would be affected as a result of changes to their grade or associated terms and conditions of employment.

He said over the last three years the number of staff in detriment had been reduced by 50 per cent by offering early access to vacancies and restructuring roles and responsibilities.

The spokesman added: “We are currently in discussions with the trade unions on what further steps we can take to address the situation in the run up to April and will keep staff updated on the outcome.

“It should be acknowledged though that these changes were introduced to address a historical inequality and we need a balanced approach in addressing detriment that does not risk prolonging inequality amongst the workforce.”